FANS of Dr Who in Upper Norwood turned out in their droves on Saturday to celebrate their hero's 50th anniversary.
But they did not wait for the historic 50th birthday programme on the television later that night.
Instead, their celebrations started in the morning as Upper Norwood Library was transformed into its own time-travelling alien world.
Staff, children and their parents all joined in the fun as the library became awash with Doctors in various guises, mixing with rampaging Daleks and other monsters.
The library, which was threatened with closure when Croydon Council pulled out of a joint operating agreement with Lambeth, is in the process of becoming a community library run with financial backing from both authorities.
Saturday's event was designed to both celebrate Dr Who and engage the community.
Robert Gibson, co-chairman of the Upper Norwood Library Trust, said: "The staff and everyone threw themselves in 100 per cent. The library was absolutely full with Doctors young and old and there were a lot of children going around with huge smiles on their faces.
"It was a profile-raising event for the library and it was hugely successful in doing that.
"It attracted a lot of people who had probably never been in the library before and there was a spike in membership as well."
Mr Gibson added: "The commitment of the community has created a formidable coalition which has great aspirations for the future.
"We are looking forward to keeping that commitment going and building on it."
